The cumulative efforts of
these three animal rights organizations resulted in a fast
food chain's dramatic announcement. Burger King issued
a press release revealing that they would require their
suppliers to compassionately raise and slaughter
animals for human consumption.

Animals scream and cry. I have heard a pig's protests.
I have felt the chilling effects from their collective ear-shattering
agonized dying statements. They cry because they hurt. They cry because they
are scared. They cry one last cry with a final breath which often ends with
the gurgling sound of a creature drowning on his or her own blood.

Seventy years ago on this date (December 5, 1943),
2,739 Jews were herded into trucks and driven to
train stations. They were then pushed into cars
normally used to transport cattle to slaughterhouses
and sent to one of many of Germany or Poland's
concentration camps.

Between 1939 and 1945, on 2,200 days, more than six
million Jews suffered similar fates. Each individual
life was precious, and every man, woman, and child
suffered a series of painful indignities before death.

Today, December 5, 2013, more than 27 million American
farm animals will suffer in much the same way that each
human victim suffered during the Holocaust. Factory farm
life in no way resembles the tranquil lie depicted on milk cartons. Chickens and pigs, turkeys and cows,
lambs and ducklings all live the greatest part of
their lives on farms and die horribly violent deaths resulting from finely honed stainless steel blades.

Upon leaving the farm, separation from the only life
they know becomes trauma. Transportation to the death
factory provides more than just a few moments of fear.

The violent head slams stun gentle creatures for just
a moment. Many wake up to feel the executioner's knife
slicing through muscles, veins, and neck arteries.

Animals scream and cry. I have heard a pig's protests.
I have felt the chilling effects from their collective
ear-shattering agonized dying statements. They cry
because they hurt. They cry because they are scared. They cry one last cry with a final breath which often
ends with the gurgling sound of a creature drowning on
his or her own blood.

I once witnessed the People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals (PETA) claim a major victory. At the same
time, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) took credit for that same victory, as did Farm Sanctuary.
Each group had spent millions of donor dollars to lobby
members of congress and fast food restaurants to make
it easier for animals to die. The cumulative efforts of
these three animal rights organizations resulted in a fast
food chain's dramatic announcement. Burger King issued
a press release revealing that they would require their
suppliers to compassionately raise and slaughter
animals for human consumption.

While others danced, I carefully read the Burger King
press release. Animal rights activists claimed victory
for those animals that continue to die.

The chickens would be allowed to live their
entire lives in a larger crate than had been
traditionally used. Frank Perdue's chickens are
routinely stuffed into crates that allow an average
of 47 square inches of floor space per bird.

Federal guidelines recommend 75 square inches
per bird as a more compassionate home. Burger
King announced that they would recommend four percent more space, or 78 square inches.

I was attending an animal rights convention
When I read that press release. I went to the
hotel's front desk and borrowed a scissors and ruler. I cut two pieces from different colored
construction paper. One piece was 8 2/3 inches
square. The second was 8 7/8 inches square.
When one overlapped the other, a thin border
represented Burger King's not-so compassionate
statement for chickens.

When you do the same, you will feel a sense of
sadness. An entire life will be spent standing on
wire. That bird's space will occupy an area equal
to the size of a computer mouse pad. I would not
wish that upon a pigeon or a parakeet. Even a
canary deserves more space to live her life
than the confinement offered by chicken
producers for their birds.

Eat the bird, share the guilt. A life of torturous
discomfort is interrupted only by the welcome
sting of death.

Animal rights activists cheered when speakers
congratulated those people who supported the
ethical treatment of animals. What victory is
there in self delusion?

"It is amazing how complete is the delusion
that beauty is goodness."
- Leo Tolstoy

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